Domhnall took a half-step forward but stopped himself before doing anything rash.
He was about to step in between Virgilia and Tethrin of Highblade-- which would have been incredibly rude.
...He didn't quite know why he had the urge to do so.
--but it was concerning.
Tethrin's glowing gaze passed over him, returning to the reporting harpy.
"Fret not, Hatchling," he said. "The Holy Princess is accounted for and will be present for the battle."
After a brief pause, he added, "Ah, and the Commander has arrived, as well."
Virgilia revealed a full smile upon hearing the news.
"I hear you, Lord Highblade."
Considering her form, her status, and... that suspicious smile, Domhnall wondered if Virgilia had a close relationship with the Commander.
The notion pricked at Domhnall's senses. The Commander of the Wyrmslayer Alliance had a reputation for being handsome and well-respected. Thus, it was a matter of course that he'd also be well-liked.
Also, the Commander was also alive, a subject that Domhnall could not compete in.
"Nemaya Strana, the Country of Sleeping Forests," Tethrin boomed.
"20,142 warriors, present and accounted for," answered Domhnall, "of which, 1,611 are Guides and 7,855 are Striders."
"And the Nemayan Siege Weaponry?" Tethrin prompted.
"43 Greater Frostwyrms, 110 lesser-- and for the siege weapons..."
Domhnall listed off the counts of the Nemayan Forces he committed to memory.
Everyone in the Wyrmslayer Alliance seemed to think of their Greater Frostwyrms and their Pale Skyriders as a direct counter to the Drake Armor fleet.
However, that wasn't exactly true.
The magical bone constructs were enchanted to fly and the contemporary weapons installed had great destructive potential. Unfortunately, they were slow and cumbersome, especially when compared to the fast and agile (and likely, more numerous) dragon look-a-likes.
For that purpose, much of Nemaya Strana's combat power was concentrated in their maneuverable emplacements.
Gigantic net launchers, each manned by a practiced team of two. Single-manned repeating cannon emplacements, each enchanted round rated to a stupendous caliber. Complicated, four-man-carry magic crystals that shot concentrated beams of freezing magical cold.
Usually, Nemayan Striders were fielded separately from their living counterparts. However, the Nemayan artillery line, under the guidance of Queen Arendelle, had incorporated them into integral and cohesive units.
The tireless were responsible for the equipment's transport, set-up, and protection. The breathing were tasked to kill the enemy.
Tethrin nodded sagely, the faint glow in his eyes seeming to imply that he knew all that and more.
--and though Domhnall didn't believe he was xenophobic, he thought of the action as particularly... Elven.
"The Magic Kingdom of Alizeau," Tethrin said, gesturing to Master Leafstrangle,
"11,000 troops," Leafstrangle waved. "2 companies of Griffonriders, 1 company of those accursed dragon-birds."
"They're called dragonhawks,"[1] King Guorthigirn mumbled, "we have those too."
That might have been true, but the notion was akin to comparing a pack of mangy and underfed dogs to a pack of Nemayan winter wolves.
Suddenly, Tethrin reached out his hand, grasping at the air in front of him.
Guorthigirn let out a breathy gasp... and was unable to make any sound out of his mouth other than breathy gasps.
It was a simple and effective ⌈Silence⌋ Spell.
The display of magical prowess instilled Domhnall with a great deal of vindictive pleasure.
"--and some 2,000 Iron-Rank Wizards or higher," Leafstrangle said, shaking his head, "but in my estimation, only about 600 of those runts have spellbooks worth more than shhhhIT-PaPer."
"Your concern is *noted,* Sapling," Tethrin glared.
"Sir," Leafstrangle bowed.
Uh, sure.
"[Why does everyone keep saying that?]"
Domhnall had mistakenly internalized the loud-part, speaking the quiet-part aloud.
"A fortunate wind flows at thy back," Tethrin explained.
--and that was all he said.
Highblade tossed out a couple more empty, somewhat motivation platitudes, then gave the dismissal order.
King Guorthigirn left right away, perhaps stifled overlong by those he viewed as superior.
The elf and gnome went off, as well, stepping onto the magic tree stump and disappearing in two separate whirls of leaves.
Domhnall stood in one spot, unable to let go of Tethrin's words.
He said he was blessed by a 'fortunate wind.'
...Piecing together what he knew, it was possible that Virgilia being a 'daughter of the four winds' implied the two of them made a complementary team.
How exactly that was, he had no clue.
Domhnall did not consider himself a very lucky person-- especially for a man grounded in logic and rejecting superstitions of all kinds.
And he wasn't interested in women... but he didn't find Virgilia as repulsive as a typical human or Titanblood woman.
If he did, he would have strongly considered rejecting the advices of Masters Leafstrangle and Highblade.
Virgilia-- she seemed equally perplexed by their unorthodox pairing:
An elegant bird-woman the size of a human teenager and a lumbering zombie, twice her height and a dozen times her weight.
Or was she staring for a different reason?
"[Lady Virgilia?]"
"Oh, my most humble apologies, Master Domhnall," the harpy bowed.
"[S-speak comfortably. Please.]"
It seemed that was how she spoke... but it was troublesome to the recipient of such formal speech.
The young lady's lips cracked into a shy smile, "You don't have any hands."
Neither did she.
Domhnall lifted up his forearms, showing off the enchanted blades secured to them, "[Hands are overrated.]"
They were having a conversation. That was good, as they were going to be partners in the coming battle.
As Virgilia had rendered him a compliment, in order to continue the conversation, it was proper for Domhnall to compliment her in return.
"You're the most beautiful creature I've ever seen."
Virgilia's eyes widened in surprise-- and Domhnall realized he had spoken with his actual voice as opposed to his mana-voice.
It was... not an attractive voice by human standards.
...but the faint red on Virgilia's cheeks made Domhnall somehow doubt she was repulsed by it.
"Shall... we return to the Nemayan troops, Master Domhnall?"
[1] #Dragonhawk: See Chapter 1050!
[2] Ogreslayer: See the events starting in Chapter 931 and ending in 933, Curse of the Ogre King!
[3] Ravidius was first introduced (by his daughter, Megara,) in Chapter 798.